A new street in Hackney Wick has been named after a piano manufacturing company that claims to be the oldest in the world.
Broadwood Street in Hackney Wick takes its name from John Broadwood and Sons, whose piano-making factory was located in Old Ford from 1903 to 1931.
Broadwood Street was officially named at a ceremony on October 20.
Founded in 1728, John Broadwood and Sons claims to have supplied instruments to well-known composers throughout the ages, including Frédéric Chopin (1810-1847) and Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827).
Alastair Laurence, chairman of John Broadwood and Sons, said: “When they developers were choosing a name for the street, they approached us.
“They asked us if we would be willing to let our name be used as the site used to be a very important piano factory.
“We feel flattered and honoured that these developers… wish to commemorate the name. We’re very gratified to see our name remembered in that way and not forgotten.”
Mr Laurence was also keen to see the UK’s instrument-making heritage preserved.
He added: “We’re also still very keen to see pianos and other musical instruments built in this country.
“The trend in recent decades has been for people to be content to have instruments made in places [overseas] without batting an eyelid. They’re quite happy as long as they’re making a profit.
“That’s the kind of mentality we’re fighting in our company. We’re gratified and honoured that the street has been named after our company because it fits very well with our strategy of maintaining craftsmanship in this country.”
The street has been created in Hackney Wick as part of a new residential development in Dace Road by Southern Housing Group and HG Construction.
The Dace Road development comprises 144 new homes, over 5,500sq m of commercial space and a renewed public space for the local community.
Adam Quinn, CEO at HG Construction, said: “John Broadwood & Sons was of major significance to this area for half a century and we are delighted to mark that heritage through this new street name, which was brought forward by Tower Hamlets Council.
“We are committed to creating positive links with the communities in which we operate, and we are proud that this new development is honouring the history of the local area.”
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